Thorned Shadow [+18]

The throne room was magnificent. On either side of her, was glass. She could see the Kingdom she stood in through the left side ceiling to floor window. A single throne sat on a raised floor, pushed back against the wall in front of her. There was a single door besides it, where Katara and the Fae King had disappeared off too.

She remembered his scent, though it had calmed her body, but she remembered him from the dungeons. The male who had come to save Katara.

Cerelia ignored the frown on her face. Not a part of her cared that she was left standing in a room alone, the utter disrespect spat on her face. If she was a true queen, maybe she would have cared. Aideen would have pulled the Fae King by the ear and made him kneel in apology.

Cerelia exhaled another breath before she walked towards the throne slowly. It was beautifully made. Wide enough to fit two big Fae males on it, painted black with swirls of gold circling around every inch of it. Cerelia took a step closer to it, pushing her feet that ached on the raised floor.

She was to be queen of this castle one day if she married the king who was in the arms of his lover which made her happy. He would not touch her. Cerelia moved her finger across the arms of the throne, moving around it, her finger bending slightly at the deepness before gliding back up as she walked around the cold and empty throne.

A black cushion lay on the throne. Without thinking twice, she sat down on the throne, facing the empty ballroom. Her body hummed in calmness that fell over her body as she leaned back, her head resting on the throne. She looked at the empty beige coloured walls, the large glass chandelier hanging in the middle of the room.

Instantly the double doors opened and Emrys walked inside. She quickly stood up as he looked at her, glancing around the room before letting out a deep sigh. “Erix!” He called out, his voice booming through the room.

Cerelia climbed down from the raised floor, her legs aching too much but she held herself up as Emrys called out his name again, anger shining in the male who had not shown an ounce of anger during the hours she had spent with him.

She kept her hands behind her back, under the cloak as the door the Fae King had walked through opened. She saw him and Katara walk out of the room, Katara clinging to his arm.

Golden eyes stared at her, noticing her standing near the throne. His eyes pinned her in her spot and she forgot how to breathe, her heart begging for Emrys to say something, anything to make the Fae King look away from her. “Who are you?”

“Cerelia?” Katara smiled at her before chuckling. “Hi.” She pulled away from the King and walked towards her, stopping that distance she had kept. “I didn’t think I would find you here. Zemira is going to be so happy that you’re alive. The Wolf King hasn’t even left your room, saying he didn’t want you to leave.”

“It is nice to see, Katara.” Cerelia smiled at her a little, still feeling the Fae King’s gaze on her. Cerelia glanced at Katara’s lips, the red paint smudged against her upper lip. “You have-” She murmured softly, pointing to her own upper lip.

Immediately Katara wiped at her upper lip, thanking her before walking back towards the Fae King.

“You must have lost your mind.” Emrys snarled at him.

“Who is she?” Three simple words were said and he still did not remove his gaze from her, the golden eyes narrowing. She pushed his suffocating scent that wished to float inside of her mind and calm her body again, out of thought, and out of feel.

Emrys sighed, as if disappointed with himself and the Fae King. He answered him. “This Cerelia, Queen of witches.” He turned his warm eyes to her, the disappointment disappearing from his eyes as if to say he was happy one of the Royals had kept their promise.

A part of her wanted to say to him she had no choice.

“A queen?” Katara questioned before whistling. “Now Zemira will love to know that.” Cerelia offered her a smile.

“Cerelia, child, this is Erix. The king of Fae.” Emrys pointed to Erix who was watching her, counting the breaths she took.

“What do I say to a king?”

“A pleasure to meet you and then his name. Do not address him as your majesty because you are a queen as well. A queen will use his name.”

Aideen’s words sprung in her mind.

“A pleasure to meet you, Erix.” Cerelia nodded her head once at him.

It took him a few seconds longer to respond but she watched as he nodded back, a hand still snaked around Katara’s back. Cerelia could have jumped for joy at his behaviour but it was inappropriate. “The pleasure is all mine, Cerelia.” His voice was a caress over her body as he said her name.

“Emrys. Why don’t you show the Queen to her new chambers? I have to continue chatting with Katara.” Erix said, and before Emrys could interrupt them, Erix lifted Katara into his arms again, before returning to the room, slamming it shut and making Cerelia jump slightly.

“I apologise for his…“Emrys moved his hand around the place Erix and Katara had stood before he moved his cane backwards and took a step towards the door. “Allow me to escort you to your room.”

Cerelia walked towards him, her steps slower as she winced slightly.

“Are you in pain?” Emrys questioned, watching as she winced with every step.

She spoke the truth to him, stopping beside him. “It has been a while since I have walked so much.”

Emrys chuckled a little as they walked out of the throne room and once again into the hall. “You should rest.” He said, pointing ahead left to the other set of double doors. “When I spoke to Agatha, she had sent your measurements over to the royal seamstress.” Emrys walked and she followed him. “Your gowns have already been hung up for you, along with whatever other pieces you will need.” He said to her vaguely, as he slowly climbed the stairs.

“Thank you.”

“You are very well mannered.” Emrys smiled, glancing over his shoulder as she trailed four steps behind him. “Hopefully Erix will learn to be kind like yourself.”

She nodded her head, not wanting to tell her that she learnt to be opposite of the people who had tortured her. “Emrys.” She said softly, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment a little as they walked onto a floor where no guards stood. “Will it be possible to get something to eat?”

“Of course!” Emrys spun around to look at her, his cane moving with him. “Greatest apologies.” He shook his head to himself. “I completely forgot to ask if you’d like to eat but after I show you to your room, I will personally bring you food.” He grinned and she smiled slowly, nodding her head.

Emrys walked towards the only door on the floor. She followed him, walking on the grey carpet. The whole floor was completely different from the other halls and the castle she had walked in. While the walls of the castle were either white or beige, these were a dark grey, the door a white, and the carpet grey. No paintings hung on the empty walls but she liked the little bench pressed against the tall and wide window at the end of the hall.

Emrys walked into the room. “This whole floor will belong to you. You will have your own privacy and if you feel like you need anything, outside those doors, there will be a guard waiting to care for your needs.”

The bed was bigger than she had ever seen. The fae had bigger and wider bodies. Just looking at Erix, she knew he would crush her under his thumb. The bed was black, the walls were white, and the doors painted inside were black. “I did not know which colour you would like but I know black is…it can be comforting to some people.” Emrys watched as she looked around the room.

There was a big window on her left side, and she walked towards it, pressing her knee against the soft cushioned bench and staring out at the land of witches. There were no Fae she could see, just small houses scattered here and there on open land.

Cerelia turned to look at Emrys who waited for her to say anything. She sighed softly, sitting down on the cushions and allowing her legs to rest. “Emrys, may I ask something?” He immediately nodded his head. “What must I do in this castle?”

Emrys sighed. “In a few days or a week, you will be engaged to Erix in front of all witches and females. You’ll get married soon after. But tomorrow, when you wake up, you will be escorted to breakfast.” He smiled at her and she nodded slowly.

If Katara stayed, then the Fae King would not want to touch her. Maybe he didn’t want to at all, which would make Cerelia extremely happy. “Thank you Emrys. After I eat, I’d like to rest if that is okay.”

He immediately nodded, closing the door behind himself as he left the room. Cerelia instantly stood up, shoots of pain darting up her legs but she walked towards the front door and she pulled it open, pushing it against the wall and keeping the door wide open.

Cerelia peeked her head out of the room. Nobody was in the hallway.

She let out a sigh before stepping back inside the room and looking at her new life. She needed to eat, before she crumbled in the castle that belonged to the Fae.

☆☆☆

Cerelia could not sleep. She had washed her body in the black tub in the washroom, allowing herself to soak in the warm water. She had scrubbed her hair with soap before getting dressed in a loose cotton dress that fell to her ankles.

The food Emrys had left for her was delicious though she could only take a few spoonfuls of rice and eat a little bit of the juicy meat. He had closed the door again but she had pulled it open, leaving it open even when the sun had disappeared from the sky and the moon appeared.

She had sat down on the foam mattress and laid down on it but it had been uncomfortable, especially under the blankets, so Cerelia climbed out of the bed and walked to the closest corner near the window. She had pulled her knees up, wrapped her arms around them and rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes.

Yet sleep did not come, not even as she watched the stars blink out in the sky and the birds sing as the sun slowly rose. She stretched her legs out in front of her before standing up. Sunlight poured into her room as she heard someone running up the stairs and through the hall.

She stood up straighter as a dark skinned female stopped beside her opened door. She wore a black dress with a high neck that fell to her thighs and her legs were bare. The female saw Cerelia staring and she stood up straighter, placing both of her hands in front of her, curling her fingers around them.

She did a curtsy, her black hair in tight but tiny braids which she had twisted up and held them against her head with a claw. “Your majesty, my name is Nyota.” She said in a low voice, as she glanced at the bed that Cerelia had made again. “I am here to help you bathe, dress, and take you to the dining room when it is time.”

“It is nice to meet you, Nyota.” She replied back. “I do not need help though.” She told her truthfully.

“I am the maid assigned to you, your majesty.”

“Please call me Cerelia.” She offered. “You may sit down while I bathe myself.” Cerelia walked towards the door which had led to hundreds of gowns, jewellery, tunics, shoes, undergarments, even coats though it was not needed with the bright sun.

“I will sit?” Nyota said, with confusion clear in her voice as she walked towards the closet door, Cerelia had left it open. “Let me find you a gown to wear. You can sit, Your majesty.” Her movements were fast as she quickly moved closer to Cerelia making her flinch backwards.

Nyota immediately stopped. “I’m so sorry.” She raised her hands.

“Please sit.” Cerelia said softly. “I will bring out a few gowns and you can help me decide which one to wear. Is that okay?”

Nyota blinked, the confusion clear on her face as she furrowed her eyebrows but nodded. Cerelia waited for her to leave the closet before looking at the gowns. They were all dark coloured, as if Agatha had told them what colours would suit her hair.

Cerelia pulled out a long dark purple gown. Silver beading had been threaded into its bodice and around the neckline that would curve around her breasts. The long sleeves made her smile. They had the same beading. The gown would be tight fitted, Cerelia knew and there was no long cape to hide her figure. She lifted the gown back on its hanger to push it back in between the other shades of purple gowns.

“Oh please wear that!” Nyota squealed from her chair where she could perfectly see all the gowns in the closet. “I could braid your hair for you and imagine the tiara-” Nyota was grinning to herself.

Cerelia saw a completely different person as Nyota pretended to faint on the chair. She looked down at the gown in her hands again and smiled. The gown had brought a smile and a happy side of Nyota out, it may do the same to Cerelia.

She held it in her hands and looked at pieces of lacy strings and fabric. Undergarments. She had never worn them in her life. “Nyota…” She called out softly. “Could you please help me with this?”

Immediately Nyota was standing beside the door, looking at the queen who was kneeling next to the shelf full of matching Undergarments. “You will not need to wear a bra with that gown.” She said, making Cerelia look at her with confusion. Nyota blinked. “Have you ever worn any undergarments?“She asked hesitantly.

Cerelia shook her head, making Nyota nod her head before taking a step back and clearing the closet doorway. “Cerelia.” She said her name with a softness Emrys had used. “You can bathe if you wish. I will have the gown, the accessories, everything ready for you.”

“Will you allow me to dress myself please?” Cerelia asked as she stood up again.

Nyota nodded her head and Cerelia smiled, holding the gown out to her before she walked out of the room, careful of not touching Nyota. She thanked the maid who was all smiles and happiness as she stared at the gown, before walking to the washroom.

Cerelia relieved herself using the toilet before flushing it all away. Bathing had become normal for her, to scrub at her scars as if they would disappear every time she sat in the water. She massaged the soap that smelt of coconut into her hair before rinsing it off. She brushed her teeth, washed her face all without looking at herself in the mirror. She hated her face, the only scarless part of her body.

With a long towel wrapped around her body, Cerelia opened the door slightly to see Nyota humming to herself besides the window, her back turned to Cerelia. “I closed the door as well, for a little privacy but nobody would come on this floor.” She told her.

Her eyes turned to the front door that was closed tightly. She inhaled a breath. “Please leave the door open.”

Exhaling a breath as Nyota opened the door, with her back still turned, Cerelia walked out of the room slowly. Nyota talked about a cream that would make her body feel soft which she had placed beside on the pillow of the bed. Cerelia lifted the small tub before applying it to her body, she massaged the cream over the bumps of her own skin, enjoying the smell of something sweet.

She listened to Nyota who told her that she would be wearing no jewellery except a pair of very light earrings if her ears were pierced. Zemira had them done for her when she was a child. It was the only explanation for the tiny black stones in her piercings. Cerelia lifted the lace small fabric up into her hands as Nyota told her to wear them, to cover her private parts. Cerelia listened, pushing her legs through each hole before pulling them up her body. They fit comfortably. She unzipped the gown before pushing her feet into it and pulling it up her body. That was how she had worn the black gown that lay in the washroom.

Twisting and turning a little to pull the dress up from her bottom, Cerelia smiled to herself as she pushed her arms through the long sleeves. She twisted her hand around herself, pulling the zip up as much as she could before twisting her other hand over her shoulder and pulling the zip up again, completely closing it.

“Can I look?” Nyota questioned.

“Yes.” Cerelia answered as she looked at the dress that felt tight around her body but she was still able to move in it. She bent down to throw the small flat purple shoes onto the ground before stepping into them, allowing her feet to breathe better than those boots she had been given to wear with the black dress.

“May the Gods take my life now.” Nyota gasped and Cerelia lifted her gaze and her body as she looked at Nyota with worried eyes. “You look so beautiful, I think I would wish to marry you.” Cerelia did not say a word as Nyota talked and talked about how stunning she looked and how the males would all fall over themselves once they saw her.

She didn’t want that but it was the words Nyota said next that did not make her want to pull the gown off her body. “You look like a queen.” Then she rambled on about how she was already a queen but with the gown, everyone would know.

“Can I do your hair now?” Nyota asked with her big brown eyes widening in excitement. Cerelia nodded, sitting down on the bed slowly. “I was thinking of adding a curling cream to it. Your hair would look lovely down with the tiara.” Nyota climbed onto the bed, kneeling on it to be a little higher than Cerelia.

Cerelia simply nodded, digging her nails into her palms, her back stiff as Nyota brushed her fingers on her back as she combed through Cerelia’s hair.

“I really wish you would marry the Fae King.” Nyota spoke softly, as Cerelia lifted the small circle earrings with a dangling star on each one to her ears. “I have a….friend that is a witch.” She said so quietly as if she didn’t want the walls to hear her. “I would really wish she didn’t hate the fae so much so she could at least see my world.”

“Do you see her world?” Cerelia questioned as Nyota applied some cream to her hair.

“I do sometimes. Very rarely I go to the witches’ territory. Please don’t tell anyone.” She said as she climbed off the bed.

“I will not.” Cerelia answered her as Nyot moved around the bed and towards her. “I do not know a lot of people myself in the witch’s lands.”

Nyota lifted the golden tiara with the black jewels and pushed it into her hair, pulling a few strands out. “Are you okay, if I cut this a little?” She held a few long pieces in front of her. “It’ll frame your face nicely.”

Cerelia shrugged her shoulders and Nyota took that as a sign to cut her hair with scissors that appeared out of thin air. The hair fell down onto her lap and Cerelia brushed them away, onto the ground as Nyota grinned at her. “There you go.” Her fingers brushed the sides of Cerelia’s face as she parted the hair little.

“I think maybe darken your waterline, add a little paint to your lips and some cream to conceal the dark spots under your eyes if that’s okay with you.”

Aideen had done something similar and she had wanted to run away but Aideen had spoken about being a queen and what her responsibilities were supposed to be, so Cereia lifted her head, allowing Nyota to touch her face even as she dug her nails deeper into her palms.

Seconds turned to a minute and Cerelia exhaled a breath as Nyota pulled away from her. She had held a lighter shade of paint than the red Aideen had painted on her lips. “There you go.” Nyota said and Cerelia released her nails, massaging her palms slowly. “I could show you how to do it yourself.” Nyota pointed to the vanity table with the large mirror that Cerelia could see herself in.

Immediately she turned her face away, not wanting to look at the beautiful female who looked nothing like a girl who had escaped a dungeon, barely two weeks ago.

Cerelia stood up, careful of the hair pieces on the ground. “When should I go for breakfast? Will Emrys be arriving?”

Nyota motioned her to walk towards the door. “I’m going to be taking you there. Emrys told me he will meet you inside the dining room. The king will be present as well.”

“Erix.” Cerelia said his name, trying to familiarise her mouth with his name. “Will I need to speak with him?” She questioned as she walked out of the room and Nyota besides her.

Nyota chuckled. “Of course. He’s going to be your husband one day.” She laughed as if it was the most absurd thing Cerelia could say.

Cerelia kept her mouth shut as she walked out through the double doors where a guard waited, stationed outside the door. He bowed and she nodded her head in return, forcing her body not to bow back. They were bowing to a queen, not to the weak girl in the dungeons.

“I am not sure what else is on your schedule today-” Nyota guided her down the stairs. “But I’m assuming you might be making a public appearance.”

“Outside the castle?” Cerelia blurted out as they walked through another set of double doors. She remembered this hallway and glanced at the doors that led to the throne room.

“I am not sure. Of course Emrys, being the advisor of the castle, will tell you what you must do in order to gain the trust of the Fae.”

“What about gaining the trust of the witches?” She asked as Nyota waved at a guard near the doors they were walking towards.

“That is the King’s job. He will work on the witches and you will work on the Fae.” She said, slowing down besides the double doors. “Hi.” She purred at the two males who blushed slightly before they pushed open the doors. They bowed their heads to Cerelia.

“Go, I’ll follow you right in.” Nyota told her.

Cerelia walked into the long dining room, her eyes instantly falling on the king who sat at the head of the long table, his gaze fixated on her. She swallowed slowly, pulling her eyes away from his golden ones and looking at Emrys who immediately stood up.

“You’re here.” He grinned at her, walking towards her, using the cane as support. She walked towards him, a part of her feeling guilty for making him walk towards her. “Sit down child, your breakfast will be served.”

“We have been waiting for you.” Erix spoke and she turned to look at him. “For a while now.” There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t read.

She forced herself not to lower her head in fear, not to hide herself from the king. “Apologies, Erix.” She used his name, which felt foreign on her tongue before turning to look at Emrys. “May I sit down please?”

“Of course, child.” He immediately pulled out the chair on Erix’s right, opposite Katara who sat on his left side. Cerelia smiled at her, glancing at their joined hands on top of the table, the smile more genuine than she had ever smiled.

Emrys allowed her to sit before pushing the chair in for her. She thanked him as he walked around Erix’s chair and sat down next to Katara, a smile directed to Cerelia as she placed her hands on her lap. “We haven’t been waiting that long.” Emrys told her as he turned the plate around in front of him. She followed his movements carefully placing the napkin on her lap. “I just arrived myself.”

She smiled at him just as Nyota started bringing in dishes full of food with other maids. Cerelia smiled at Nyota who winked at her with a cheeky smile on her face directed at Erix who talked to Katara softly about using some of the jam in the bedroom.

Cerelia looked at the various shapes and sizes of white bread in front of her. Some were circled and Emrys had picked up the circle bun shaped breads and placed them on his plate. Erix and Katara filled their plate with slices of pork, bread, some sort of beans in tomato sauce from the smell of it and eggs. Lots of eggs.

She looked up at Emrys who urged her to take something and she nodded, slowly raising her hands and picking out two small slices of bread. She flinched as a knife fell from Erix’s hand onto his plate. Immediately she let go of the bread, looking at him.

He was staring at her scarred hands. Katara followed his gaze. Cerelia immediately placed her hands back on her lap as his narrowed gaze turned to look at her. “What happened?” It was not a question to be ignored, she could tell even as Katara stiffened at his low voice.

“Calm down boy. Let her eat.” Emrys waved his knife and the fork he held in his other hand at Erix who was still staring at her.

His hair was pulled back into a tight bun above his head, revealing the face she hadn’t dared to look too closely at until now. His eyes were as gold as the gate she had fallen through but it was the scar above his eye that she stared at. The slice had just missed his eye as if he had shut it so tightly when whoever or whatever had clawed his face. “What happened?” She repeated his same words, staring at the scar on his face before looking into his eyes.

He wouldn’t answer, she knew that even as Katara tightened her hand around his, a reassuring touch. Emrys didn’t say a word. “The Queen did it.” Four simple words with so much meaning behind them.

She pulled her gaze away from his face and to her scarred hands in her lap. “The King did it.” She said before raising them and lifting the two slices of bread again and putting it on her plate. A small ghost of a smile appeared on her face as Emrys pushed the bowl of hazelnut chocolate towards her.

“Agatha had asked the witch who you were living with what you had eaten for breakfast.” He said in response to her stare as she lifted the bowl and placed it beside her. “I told your maid to find the same one in the Fae kingdom.”

“Thank you, Emrys.” She smiled at him, ignoring Erix’s lingering gaze. She lifted her knife before scooping some of the chocolate onto her bread.

“You know, Cerelia-” Katara said with a mouthful of eggs. She swallowed when Cerelia looked at her. “I think you being here is going to change a lot of things.” She smiled, as if not caring that Cerelia was to marry her lover. “It’ll be nice. When I fell through the gate, I landed straight into the castle.” She chuckled, scooping up more eggs onto her fork. “And I was going to kill him when he told me he had to get married for the sake of the kingdom-”

Cerelia listened as she spread the chocolate on the bread slowly. Katara continued. “But when I saw you, I thought to myself she can marry him. She’s allowed.”

“Why am I allowed?” Cerelia questioned before taking a small bite out of the bread and the chocolate. With her thumb, she wiped the crumbs under her bottom lip, feeling the King’s gaze still on her as he ate.

“Because well, you’re you.” Katara shrugged her shoulders as Cerelia took another bite out of the bread. “Also I understand this whole royal dynamic. Delphine is having problems of her own after taking over Wisteria.”

Delphine.

Cerelia placed the bread back down on the plate, swallowing before talking. “Is Delphine okay? Does she need any help?” Cerelia would help her, to repay for the understanding she had shown the first time.

“You know Delphine?” Katara questioned, scrapping her fork against the plate, making Cerelia hold back a wince.

“Yes. So if there is any help she needs, I’ll do what I can.” Cerelia said, lifting the napkin from her lap and cleaning her hands before placing it on the side of the table.

She was done with eating, knowing her stomach would not take anymore and she didn’t want to choke down food just to vomit it out again.

“She’s in love with Willa but needs to marry a Prince if she is to become queen.” Katara shrugged her shoulders, throwing her own napkin on her plate after she finished eating. “She’ll figure something out though.”

“Will you be returning to your own realm?” Emrys questioned, with a raised eyebrow as he glanced at Erix who was silent.

Katara shrugged her shoulders again, facing the old male. “Not any time soon. Is that a problem?” She raised her own brow at him.

He turned his head away from her, shaking his head before looking at Cerelia. “Child, will you not eat anymore?” He frowned at her plate where she had taken four bites of the chocolate bread.

“No thank you.” She answered him, not meeting any of their eyes as she saw Nyota standing near one of the pillars, making silly faces at her. Cerelia giggled and Emrys grinned, glancing over his shoulder to see Nyota standing straight up quickly. Cerelia quickly asked him a question. “Emrys, what will I be doing today?”

He faced her, beaming with a bright smile. “I advise you to go with Erix through the Kingdom, walking together, alone of course.” He glanced at Katara who was watching him. “No guards will follow. Erix will protect you in case of any dangers but I hardly doubt the Fae will try anything.”

“If you are ready, we can leave right now.” Erix offered, pushing his chair back and standing up. “I’ll buy you something, to show them I care about you.” His voice was distant but he leaned down, pressing a kiss on top of Katara’s head, whispering something in her ear that she could not hear.

Cerelia pushed her chair back, and stood up slowly, Emrys following her as he picked up another bun. “These are very sweet.” He chuckled, noticing her gaze. “You should try one.” He held it out to her. She noticed his gaze flickering back to her plate, a hint of worry in his eyes.

She had not eaten according to their meals. Erix and Katara had eaten plates full of food, as did Emrys who had drank the tea that he poured for himself. She smiled at him, before taking the sweet bun from his hands. “Thank you.”

Erix held his arm out, staring at her. “We should go.” He said but she moved around his arm, ignoring the fear of touching him and moved to his right side, where she could see the scar clearly. He did not need to make her walk on his left side. She did not mind his scar.

“You should hold my arm. It would show a u-”

“It is fine, if she doesn’t.” Emrys said, moving his cane ahead of himself before walking towards the door, the two maids opened. “Just guard her back, that is all.”

Erix slowed his pace to walk side by side with her, though she moved slightly away from his broad arms as they walked out of the dining room. Cerelia held the sweet soft bun in her hand as she followed Erix and Emrys.

“Is this necessary, Emrys?” Erix sighed. She watched as he pushed a hand behind the collars and rubbed at his neck. He wore a black tunic, and the same shade of pants but it was the fancy black blazer with gold swirls that reminded her of the throne, that made him look like a king as if he didn’t need to wear a crown to show his power.

“We are keeping our lips sealed on princess Katara, allowing you to have fun though we know how inappropriate it can be seen to our people and to the witches when they find out you are not entertaining their queen as a male would do, so the least you can do is walk around your kingdom with her.” Emrys spoke in a stern voice, nothing like the warm gentle voice he used with her.

“I do not mind.” Cerelia said and she felt Erix’s gaze on her. He was so tall, and she was tiny compared to him, barely reaching his shoulder. She looked younger, her grey eyes meeting his golden ones. “If you would like to entertain Katara after the marriage as well, I would truly not mind. I would rather encourage it.” She hoped he was not hearing her beating heart.

“That is kind of you, child.” Emrys spoke, standing beside the door that two guards opened to reveal the sun and the Kingdom. “But Erix knows he can only keep a mistress after marriage, not before.”

“Katara is not my mistress.” He snarled at Emrys in warning but Emrys did not flinch.

“Do not use that tone with me, boy.” Emrys lifted his cane, pointing it at Erix’s face with a narrowed glare directed at him. “Now get out there and prove to your people you are capable of marrying a Queen.”

Erix huffed, before storming out of the castle. He hesitated on the first step, before turning to look at Cerelia who waited besides Emrys. “Would you like a special invitation?” He raised an eyebrow. “Or someone to carry you down the stairs?”

Emrys growled slowly but Erix ignored it. Cerelia turned to look at Emrys who was ready to plunge the cane into the King’s heart. “Emrys, will I need to say anything to your people?” She asked softly, hoping her question did not sound stupid as she tried to pull his angering stare away from the king.

Emrys let out a deep sigh, a warm smile appearing on his face as he looked at her. “If you do not wish to speak, you can stay silent. It would be nice though, if they saw you talking to their king.”

She nodded, doing a small curtsy that she had practiced in her room several times, at Emrys who chuckled, watching as she walked towards Erix. He did not offer his arm and neither did she touch him as they walked side by side down the stairs in silence.

It would be nice though if they saw you talking to their king.

Mustering enough courage, Cerelia asked as they walked out of the black gates, into the world of people that had glared at her. “How are you?”

It was the perfect conversation starter. She remembered all the males and females who had entered the dungeon to torture her body, always asking each other the question.

“Fine.” He gritted out.

She nodded her head, seeing people bowing at him and glaring at her. Cerelia kept her head lifted, Aideen’s words of not showing a weakness, ringing in her mind. She did not curl her body away, did not try to cover herself even in the tight fitted dress that seemed to be suffocating her.

“How are you?” Erix questioned.

She was tired, exhausted. Her body was hungry at the scent that flowed through the air, but she knew she would vomit it out the moment she ate. She was scared, terrified even at the thought of people killing her, or maybe she was not. Maybe it was her stupid mind that had agreed to go out into a world full of Fae, who had been killing her kind for centuries, just so she could herself be killed.

“I am fine.” She answered him though, pushing her thoughts away as he waved at a few children that had been waving at them. Cerelia smiled, watching as people opened their stalls. “What time is it? I didn’t get to see the time.” She looked up at him but he was staring at people, watching as they fought early in the morning. She realised they were not fighting but training their bodies and their skills.

“Around ten in the morning.” He answered her distantly, stopping.

She took a step backwards,to stand in the same line as him as he watched the males and females fighting. They were magnificent, their magic forming swords and shields.

She asked a question without expecting an answer. “Were you like them? In the other realm?”

He blinked, snapping out of his own thoughts and looking down at her. She wanted to hide behind something at his intense stare. “You mean to ask if I was a warrior?” He raised an eyebrow and she nodded. “Yes. I was a killer in Wisteria.” He walked forward and she tried to match his pace but stayed behind a little at how fast he walked through the markets of gowns and jewels that opened up.

Cerelia followed in silence until he came to a row of stalls that sold food. He stopped and she side stepped his body, moving to stand beside him. “If you are hungry, you can take this.“She lifted the sweet bun in her hand, knowing people were staring at her.

Those golden eyes stared at her face. “You do know how to act like a lover, don’t you?” He murmured softly, before taking the bun out of her hands, leaving her confused as someone gasped behind one of the stalls.

She looked towards the female, who lay on the ground, fainted as another one poured water on her. Before her instincts could tell her to hide, to run and ignore, Cerelia walked towards the stall, noticing the jewellery. She averted her gaze from the tiaras behind the shelves and looked down at the two females who were staring at her.

“Are you okay?” She asked with genuine concern.

The one who had fainted gaped at her. “She offered him something to eat. He took it.” She sighed softly in awe of whatever Cerelia had done. She felt Erix behind her, but he did not lean over her body as she had tilted over the jewellery to see the two females.

Cerelia moved slightly away from him as the two females stood up, the one who had fainted gaping at Erix. She looked over her shoulder to see him eating the sweet bun before she looked back at the fainted female who was on the verge of fainting again.

“I’d like to see some tiaras, please.” Erix said, pulling their gaze away from his mouth. “Something to match my soon to be fiancé’s gown.” He turned to look at her, those cold distant eyes now shining bright with amusement.

What was so amusing?

“She does look quite extraordinary, does she not?” His voice was a purr, something she hadn’t ever heard him say before he turned his gaze to the two females who were nodding their heads in unison.

Cerelia wanted the ground to swallow her up as they ran their gaze over her body. She felt the stare of many on her gown, her back, on every inch of her. She took a step back, the only movement she allowed her body to make.

“We have a purple one!”

“Or a gold one!”

“Or both!”

Immediately they pulled out three tiaras from the glass box behind them, holding them out to the king in awe. He finished the sweet bun, licking his fingers, the two females watching every lick before he lifted the three tiaras in his hands.

She was quiet, knowing an audience had formed around them. She wanted to go back, to disappear and hide in the room, to not be noticed by anyone.

Erix lifted a tiara up to the sunlight. It sparkled silver in the light, with dark purple jewels on it. “This one please.” He said, and before she could say another word, he turned towards her.

She wanted to beg him to stop, to stop staring at her with amusement in his eyes but her lips parted, a breath escaping her lips as her chest raised up and down so fast she knew every Fae would hear her heartbeat. Erix pulled the gold and black tiara out of her hair, his large fingers brushing her skin. She froze, digging her nails into her skin tightly as he brushed her hair out of her face. “So beautiful.” He murmured loud enough that she knew everyone heard.

She was going to be sick. Her throat was burning, as he pressed two fingers under her chin, tilting her face up. Amusement had disappeared from his eyes. She dug her nails in deeper, knowing she was seconds away from drawing out blood that everyone would be able to scent.

Erix placed the silver tiara on her head, brushing the short strands of hair Nyota had cut- out of her face.

Cerelia took a step back, and it seemed as if everyone who was circling around them, watching, let out a breath. The fainted female had fainted again but Cerelia didn’t care. She spun around, running away from him.